Artist

B.B. King

Wins

15

Nominations

30

Category

American Roots Music R&B Rock Country Pop Children’s

Biography

"We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so."

  • Born Riley Ben King on Sept. 16, 1925, in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Died May 14, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada
     
  • B.B. King issued his debut album, Singin' The Blues, in 1956. His first album to break the Top 40 on the Billboard 200 was 1969's Completely Well. The album featured the highest charting hit of his career, a reworking of "The Thrill Is Gone," which reached No. 15.
     
  • King won his first career GRAMMY for 1971 for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "The Thrill Is Gone." He performed five times on the GRAMMY telecast, including his GRAMMY performance debut at the 28th GRAMMY Awards in 1986 and taking part in a tribute to Bo Diddley at the 51st GRAMMY Awards in 2009.
     
  • King earned his nickname through work as a disc jockey for the Memphis radio station WDIA-AM, where his on-air nickname was "Beale Street Blues Boy." The tag was shortened to "Blues Boy," then ultimately "B.B."
     
  • King's classic 1965 album, Live At The Regal, was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2006. He received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.
     
  • King was on the board of directors for Little Kids Rock, a charity organization that provides musical instruments and instruction to disadvantaged public school students throughout the United States.

 

 

All Grammy Awards and Nominations for B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    One Kind Favor. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    80. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional R&B Performance

    Sinner's Prayer. Ray Charles, B.B. King

  • Pop Instrumental Performance

    Auld Lang Syne. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    A Christmas Celebration Of Hope. B.B. King

  • Pop Collaboration With Vocals

    Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby). B.B. King, Dr. John

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Let The Good Times Roll (Album). B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Riding With The King. B.B. King, Eric Clapton

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Blues On The Bayou. B.B. King

  • Best Contemporary Blues Album

    Deuces Wild (Album). B.B. King

  • Rock Instrumental Performance

    SRV Shuffle. Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Art Neville

  • Spoken Word Album For Children

    John Henry (Album). Denzel Washington

  • Country Collaboration With Vocal

    Patches (Track). George Jones, B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Blues Summit. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Live At The Apollo. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Live At San Quentin. B.B. King

  • Best Contemporary Blues Album

    Red Hot And Blue (Track). Lee Atwater, B.B. King

  • Country Collaboration With Vocal

    Waiting On The Light To Change (Track). Randy Travis, B.B. King

  • Best Contemporary Blues Album

    King Of The Blues: 1989 (Album). B.B. King

  • Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

    When Love Comes To Town (Single). U2, B.B. King

  • Best Contemporary Blues Album

    Standing On The Edge Of Love (Track). B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    My Guitar Sings The Blues. B.B. King

  • Best Traditional Blues Album

    Blues 'N' Jazz. B.B. King

  • R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

    Street Life (Track). Crusaders, B.B. King, Josie James

  • Traditional Folk Album

    There Must Be A Better World Somewhere. B.B. King

  • Best R&B Instrumental Performance

    When I'm Wrong (Track). B.B. King

  • Male R&B Vocal Performance

    It's Just A Matter Of Time (Track). B.B. King

  • Male R&B Vocal Performance

    Ain't Nobody Home (Single). B.B. King

  • Male R&B Vocal Performance

    The Thrill Is Gone. B.B. King

  • Male R&B Vocal Performance

    Live And Well (Album). B.B. King

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